NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10917, 7 January 1904, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

SECOND DAY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6th. The president (Mr Hughes) called order at 9.30 a.m., and business resumed. „,,-, * Mr Watson moved, and Mr Grundy seconded— ' That this Institute learns with sincere regret of, the death of the late Minister for Education (the Hon. W. C. Walker), and it desires to place on record its high appreciation of the valuable services rendered , by him to Education in this Colony and to the New Zealand Educational lustitute; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mrsj Walker." Both gentlemen .agreed, that by the death of Mr Walker the cause of Education in this Colony had sustained a very heavy loss, and the Institute a sympathetic friend. The resolution was carried unanimously. The President stated that a message of sympathy had the previous day been forwarded to Mrs Walker. Mr F. V. Knapp (Nelson) was elected as Auditor. The Institute went into Committee to further consider the Executive's report. . , At 11.30 the Institute resumed, when the election of officers proceeded. „ , For the office of President there was a close contest between Mr J. Jeffery (Dunedin) and Mr T. H. Gill (Wellington), the former.winning by a majority of three votes. The numbers being— Jeffery 28, Orill 25. For the Secretaryship, Messrs Gill, Grundy, and A. Erskine (Wellington ) were nominated. The two first named withdrew, and Mr Erskine was elected. For the position of Treasurer, Messrs T. Hughes (Christchurch) and O. D. Flamank (Otago) were nominated. Mr Hughes was elected. Mr J. G. L. Scott did not stand for re-election. „ The ordinary vacancies in the Executive were filled by the election of Mr J. K. Law, for the North Island; Mr G. Morran, for Wellington ; and Mr William Davidson, for the South Island. Messrs C. Watson, R. D. Stewart, and W. T. Grundy resigned their seats on the Executive, thus causing three extraordinary vacancies. The Executive's report as amended in Committee was adopted. Mr Taylor moved — That this Institute records its satisfaction at the proposed establishment of training colleges for teachers in the four centres. • Mr Holmes moved as an amendment—That in the opinion of this Institute one training college for teachers is quite sufficient for the Colony. On a division the amendment was lost by 19 to 25 votes. The original motion was adopted. Mr J. A. Valentine moved, and Mr J. A. Johnson seconded — That this Institute is of opinion that the practice of employing pupil-teachers in our public schools should be discarded for a better way, so^ that young men and women who desire to become teachers may be well grounded in literary work before entering upon their training in the art of teaching. After a debate the motion was carried. M Aitken moved, and Mr Strachan seconded— That so long as the pupilteacher system remains in force, the Government be requested to make the pupil-t6acher system of examination a colonial one. After some discussion the motion was carried. -.-,. Mr G. H. Espiner moved, and Mr Erskine seconded— That the Government be asked. to increase the salaries of pupil-teachers. After a short debate the motion was lost by 21 votes to 31. THE NEW SYLLABUS. . At half-past seven last evening the President (Mr Hughes) called the meeting to order. The minutes were confirmed. Mr J. A. Johnson, M.A. (Timaru), brought up the report of the Committee appointed to consider the new Syllabus. He moved— "That this Institute approves of the general lines of the new Syllabus, seeing^that t is in conformity with the ideas of modern educationists." Mr Johnson warmly approved of the new Syllabus. He considered its general intention was excellent, though much would . depend on the methods of examina- ■ tion by the Inspectors. He said there was no doubt some exception ( could be taken to details, but credit 1